Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES was notified this morning on Friday, Nov. 13, that a senior student in the Health Science Careers program received a confirmed positive test for COVID-19.
Herkimer BOCES learned of the positive COVID-19 case just before students arrived this morning, so Health Science Careers students were immediately sent home to avoid any further exposure to students and staff.
The Health Science Careers program will be moving to virtual instruction on school days during a 14-day quarantine period through Thursday, Nov. 26. Due to Thanksgiving recess, there is no school in the Herkimer BOCES region from Wednesday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Nov. 27. The anticipated return to in-person instruction for the Health Science Careers program is on Monday, Nov. 30.
Herkimer BOCES has been working closely with the Herkimer County Public Health Department on the contact tracing process. Health officials will determine who among staff and students needs to be quarantined or take any follow up steps and will directly contact them.
Health Science Careers is one of the Career and Technical Education programs at the Herkimer BOCES William E. Busacker Complex on Gros Boulevard in Herkimer. All other Herkimer BOCES programs including the other CTE programs will continue on their regular schedules.
High school juniors and seniors are attending CTE programs on different days this school year due to changes made in response to COVID-19. CTE juniors are attending Herkimer BOCES in person on Mondays and Tuesdays and learning with their home districts the other three days of the week. CTE seniors are attending Herkimer BOCES in person on Thursdays and Fridays and learning with their home districts the other three days of the week.
Both juniors and seniors, however, have the same teachers in their Herkimer BOCES programs, so Health Science Careers will be moving to virtual instruction for juniors and seniors.
Extra cleaning and sanitizing will be conducted in the Health Science Careers classroom today.
Further information and announcements will be provided as updates are available. If you have further questions/concerns, do not hesitate to contact the BOCES district office at 315-867-2023.